Chapter 7: Top Brain Health Supplements
Apart from food, supplements can also help you to optimize your brain functions. Natural supplements are the best because they do what you expect without putting you at risk of unbearable side effects. Here are some beneficial supplements that can help you to enhance your brain health and brain power:
Creatine is a natural substance that is helpful in energy metabolism. It is mostly found in muscles, but small amounts of it are in the brain. It’s a popular supplement you can buy in stores. Still, it is present in some foods such as eggs, fish, and meat. This supplement is crucial for vegetarians because of their choice of only eating plants.
Just like creatine, this supplement is produced naturally in the body. It’s an amino acid that plays a crucial role in your metabolism. It’s particularly important in energy production. Studies have proven that taking acetyl-L- carnitine supplements could make you feel more alert, slow down age- related memory loss, and improve memory. Most vitamin stores have this supplement.
According to some animal studies, this supplement could help in the prevention of age-related decline in brain function and increase the ability to learn. Human studies have also shown that it can be useful in slowing the decline in brain power as a result of age. It might also help to improve the function of the brain of people battling Alzheimer’s and mild dementia.
This is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the skin of purple and red fruits such as raspberries, grapes, and blueberries. It’s also present in chocolate, peanuts, and red wine. Research evidence shows that resveratrol consumption could prevent the deterioration of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is an important part of the brain that plays a vital role in memory.
Moreover, it could delay the decline in brain function, which many people experience as they grow older. In a study involving a small group of healthy older adults, it was discovered that consuming 200 mg of this supplement every day for 26 weeks enhances memory. You can find this supplement in stores and online if you’re interested in trying it.
Phosphatidylserine is a kind of fat compound known as phospholipids. It can be found in the brain. Studies have suggested that taking this supplement can help in the preservation of brain health. For example, a study showed that taking 100 mg of this supplement three times a day could lead to a reduction in age-related decline in brain function.
Besides, research has shown that healthy people who take up to 400 mg of this supplement per day have improved thinking ability and memory. Despite these promising discoveries, more studies are needed to have a better insight into its effect on the brain. You’ll not find it challenging to find this supplement in stores online and offline.
Ginkgo biloba is a popular herbal supplement derived from the tree known by the same name. It’s a potent substance that many people take to help boost their power. The good news is that there are no restrictions to its sale. So, you can easily find it in stores online and offline. Experts believe that it works by increasing the blood flow of the brain, thereby increasing brain functions such as memory and focus. There’s no doubt that this supplement enjoys widespread acceptance. Studies regarding its effects and benefits have been mixed.
Some studies showed that taking this substance can help in the reduction of age-related decline in brain function. A particular study involving middle- aged people discovered that taking Ginkgo biloba supplements could help to improve memory and thinking skills. However, the results have not been the same in all the studies. Therefore, more research is needed in this regard to help have a better understanding of how people can benefit from taking this supplement. In the meantime, it remains one of the widely used supplements in the world.
Vitamins B6, B12, and B9 play crucial roles in brain health, according to various studies. Still, it’s not recommended that you take them unless you’re pregnant or low on them. They are often recommended for pregnant women because they help in the prevention of birth defects. It’s also likely that your doctor recommends it to you if you have a high chance of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies have concluded that people at high risk of this illness could find these supplements beneficial. In the absence of a recommendation from a doctor, it’s better to just stick with leafy greens.
Ginseng is often used alongside Ginkgo biloba. It’s also a popular supplement that hails from Asia, as the name shows. Just like Gingko biloba, research has proven that Ginseng is a potent brain booster. However, a particular study didn’t record the same result. So, more research is still needed to confirm the mental benefits of consuming this supplement. Based on personal experiences and other anecdotal evidence, Ginseng is useful in boosting memory and brain functions, in general. Still, if you’re concerned about the relatively low scientific backings for these claims, then you shouldn’t take it for now.
Some reports showed that combining supplements can make them more effective. Still, never forget that supplements are chemical substances.
Therefore, it’s not in your best interest to experiment with them at will. You might be exposing yourself to some devastating side effects when you toy with them. Besides, some people also claim that they found supplements to be more effective when they combined them with medications. This might be true. Still, you shouldn’t assume when it comes to drugs. Your doctor is in the best position to help you to decide what is best for you in this regard.
The fact that these supplements are from natural sources doesn’t guarantee that it’s safe to take them. They might interact with some drugs in a harmful way in your body. Therefore, never make the decision to combine a supplement with another one or with a medication without informing your doctor. Medical experts are trained to handle such situations. So, it is better to trust their judgment rather than assume that nothing will go wrong. You cannot afford to make a decision that you’ll regret eventually. It might be too late to turn things around by then.